Opening of new Valley nine at Bear Mountain Resort makes Vancouver Island golf even stronger

This is about the time that golfers first start thinking of their warm weather winter golf escape. With the daylight hours evaporating like interest in the FedEx Cup, it’s easy to see why. Vancouver Island is one spot where the golf in Canada is anything but close to coming to an end for the season though.

Instead, Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa just opened up nine holes on its new Valley Course, giving everyone a chance to get a taste of what promises to be one of the more high-profile course openings of 2009 (the full 18 is scheduled to debut in April 2009) months early.

You might think it’s crazy to open up half of a course in Canada in September. But only if you don’t know anything about Vancouver Island weather. This is one of the more temperate spots in the country that moose love and snowman absolutely adore. The climate’s particularly winter golf friendly near Victoria, the hip waterland capital city which Bear Mountain is located just outside of.

Victoria receives an average annual snowfall of only 9.75 inches, among the very lowest in all of Canada. The forecast calls for a high of 78 this afternoon, so those checking out the Valley Course aren’t exactly roughing it and won’t be for months.

WorldGolf.com had the first look at the Valley Course months ago (for the complete story click here) and it actually has even more elevation changes than the original Nicklaus design Mountain Course at Bear Mountain. You’re not going to forget this course, even if you only play the spread out nine holes currently open (holes one through four and 14 through 18).

Because it’s on Vancouver Island, you still have plenty of time to do it too. And it’s not like you won’t have plenty else to do in an area with tons of good golf made even better by all the off-course options that range from high tea in ornate parlors to ocean fishing that any survivalist would appreciate.